Alina Montes AICE Global Perspectives

“To what extent is physician assisted suicide to alleviate a patient from terminal illness ethical in industrialized countries?” Economic Promotes financial incentives for insurance companies. Physician assisted suicide cost: $35-$50. Political Three states in the U.S. legalize it. Eleven countries permit it through court rulings. Six countries forbid the practice. Medical Corrupts medical practices. Arguments regarding the doctor-patient relationship. Increases trust between doctor and patient.

Ryan T. Anderson Credentials PhD in Political Philosophy from Notre Dame William E. Simon Senior Researcher Fellow in American Principles and Public Policy Claims: Always Care, Never Kill “First, it would endanger the weak and vulnerable… corrupt the practice of medicine and the doctor-patient relationship… And fourth, it would betray human dignity…” “Instead of embracing PAS, we should respond to suffering with true compassion and solidarity.” Flaws Appeal to Numbers Prejudicial Language Appeal to Fear Slippery Slope

Rita L. Marker and Kathi Hamlon Credentials Rita L. Marker Former adjunct professor of Political Science and Ethics at the University of Steubenville, Ohio. Executive Director of the Patients Rights Council. Kathi Hamlon Policy analyst of the Patients Rights Council. Claims: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Should Not Be Legalized “Laws against euthanasia and assisted suicide are in place to prevent abuse and to protect people from unscrupulous doctors and others.” “Suicide is an all too common tragic, individual act.” Flaws Appeal to Numbers Prejudicial Language Rhetorical Question Appeal to Fear

A.C. Grayling Credentials Former Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London. Representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council for the International Humanist and Ethical Union. Founder of the New College of Humanities. Claims: It is Compassionate to Permit Assisted Suicide “One hopes that the debate… will continue… thus ending unnecessary suffering, and allowing those who so choose to die in dignity and peace.” “It is a kindly gesture, and a generous one…” Flaws Appeal to Pity Prejudicial Language Non Sequitur Appeal to Numbers

Peter Rogatz Credentials M.P.H. Columbia University School of Public Health. Member of the Ethics Committee of Hospice Care. Claims: Physician-Assisted Suicide Should Be Legalized “…there are some circumstances where life has lost its value.” “…when cure is impossible and palliation has failed to achieve its objectives, there is always a residual obligation to relieve suffering.” Flaws Appeal to Authority Rhetorical Question Hasty Generalization Prejudicial Language

Reconstruction Ryan T. Anderson Endangers the weak, causes medical corruption, and disrespects human dignity. Offer support rather than helping the patient commit suicide. Rita L. Marker and Kathi Hamlon Biased opinion due to their involvement in the Patients Rights Council. Gives doctors the opportunity to intentionally kill their patients. A.C. Grayling It is humane to end the suffering of a patient. Patients deserve to die with dignity. Peter Rogatz Physicians are obligated to relieve suffering. Uses bias to exaggerate severity of the opposing claims.

Evaluation The patient who has recently committed suicide may have been deprived from an experience worth living. There may be a potential cure or additional treatment to prolong life. A physician’s decision to not provide the medication may cause the condition of the patient to deteriorate, thus placing them on life support. The patient may become desperate if not given the medication, and commit a suicide that is painful for them and their family.